Chapter 4: Into the Den

Mortal terror surged through Sidia's veins. She didn't scream, but she was unable to move. She knew there was a coven, but so many? There had to be at least a hundred just in this cavern! Her chest heaved with panic. She blinked, and suddenly the vampire on the throne was standing right in front of her, every perfect detail of his face blocking everything else out. How did he move so fast?

"Do not worry, Sidia. My name is Severus, and I have waited centuries for you. None of us will harm you." He raised one of his impossibly perfect hands and took the liberty of brushing aside a tangled curl from her face.

She froze at his touch, self-conscious once more as she realized how underdressed she was. Severus's sumptuous silk robes draped him perfectly, and his golden head had a crown of silver laurels. She was mesmerized by the way his lips formed the most glorious smile she had ever seen. His teeth practically glowed from their white perfection, the points of his fangs beautiful in a terrifying way.

"Waited? For me?" Sidia meekly choked the words out. All her bravado evaporated as the other vampires moved closer, curious about the new arrival.

"Yes, for you." Severus took her hands and held them together, bringing them up to his chest as he stared down at her. "I have met so many of your ancestors, and they have all been lovely. But, none of them have been you, the one destined for me."

"Destined for you? I don't even know you!" Sidia yanked her hands away. She might be surrounded by bloodthirsty demons ready to descend upon her, but she refused to lose any more of her power or any semblance of choice. Everything had been ripped away from her. She had spent her whole life thinking she would grow up to one day leave Monterosso and do whatever her heart desired. She had dreamed of traveling and sailing, seeing the world and learning all she could. This recent revelation, this proclamation of destiny drove her to the edge. Let them kill her. She would no longer be forced to do anything against her own desires. If that meant her death, then so be it.

There was a low chorus of hissing and gasps as she denied Severus, but he did not flinch. No, he didn't even look angry. A soothing and calming expression settled over his face, and he lowered himself to one knee. There was another rush of gasps, and most of the vampires seemed either confused or shocked.

"Please, accept my apologies, Sidia Amato. I have not been human for so very long, and I see the world so differently. This must be overwhelming for you. I will explain everything, and I will answer all your questions. Please know that my cause is noble, and that I only meant you are destined to do great things at my side. I, Emperor Lucius Septimius Severus, pledge myself to you, and I will do everything in my power to show you the glory you were meant to have." Severus stood again as he finished his vow, and the vampires erupted in applause and celebration.

At the mention of his full name, something tugged at Sidia's memory. She had always loved history, and growing up in Italy meant most of her history lessons centered around the turbulent wars and various Roman empires that had risen and fallen. There was too much information pouring in, but Severus's identity dawned on her as they all waited for her response.

"That doesn't make any sense," she finally spoke. "According to history, you died in Britain. You died in . . ." She racked her brain for the date, her jaw dropping open before finishing with, "You died in the early 200s. That's over 1,600 years ago!"

Severus smiled. "You are well educated."

"Have you been here this whole time?" She looked around again at the cavern's marvelous construction.

"Yes, Sidia. I have been slumbering for all these centuries. I have been waiting for you, and I am overjoyed to finally meet you." Severus made a gesture with his hand, and a few of the female vampires rushed to his side, hands folded in front of them as they stood there watching Sidia.

Before anyone else could speak, a slow and rhythmic step echoed in the cavern. Sidia turned to her left, looking for the source of the sound. A woman who looked the same age as Sidia's mother strode from one of the archways leading out into the rest of the mountain. She held her head high with a stern expression. Although her clothes were of a better quality than even Sidia had ever seen as a noble's daughter, they bore no embellishment or decoration.

Deep purple fabric hugged the woman's torso and arms, cinched at the waist with a golden sash. The material flowed from her hips, swaying around her ankles and revealing the heeled boots that made so much sound. Sidia wondered why no one else had made as much noise walking around, and she glanced around at the crowd. Everyone else wore soft, slipper-like shoes. She also noticed the flashes of annoyance as the woman entered the room.

"Mother, I'm so glad you're here." Marcus spoke for the first time since bringing Sidia into the cavern. He stepped around her to meet the woman and offer his arm. Sidia's heart surged as she noticed the way Marcus's face relaxed with love and admiration as he greeted his mother.

"Yes, I'm glad you could join us and finally meet the woman destined for your son." Severus added. "Sidia, this is my mother, Julia. If not for her maternal love and protection, Marcus and I would not be here today."

Julia took Marcus's offered arm, but she barely looked at him. Instead, her entire focus was on Severus.

"Thank you, my son." Julia cast her eyes over Sidia, clearly appraising her. She did not look impressed. "You look rather comfortable. Did you wipe your feet before entering the hall?"

"Mother!" Severus snapped. "She has appeared exactly as the seer predicted. Do you not recall his words? The prophecy he gave us after we lost Rome and were forced to flee here?"

At the mention of a prophecy, Marcus smirked and barely suppressed a laugh. Both Julia and Severus frowned, but they otherwise ignored him.

"I remember, Severus." Julia replied, but she was careful with her tone. It gave nothing away.

"Shall I repeat his prediction for the rest of the court?" Severus made a grand gesture as he swept around to survey the room. His subjects nodded and voiced their agreement. "Good! Let me all remind you of the reason we're here. Not just for your benefit, but for dear Sidia's as well."

"Yes, dear brother." Marcus furrowed his brow in seriousness, but there was a lilt to his tone, as if he was mocking Severus. "Please regale us once more with the prophecy you've held dear for so long."

"Marcus!" Julia's eyes flashed with anger as she regarded her son with contempt. "Do not speak that way to your brother. He is your emperor. Do not forget that."

Sidia took a mental note of the way Marcus's attitude withered from his mother's scorn. He seemed to respect her above all else.

Severus did not respond at all to his brother or his mother's scolding of him. Instead, he stepped onto one of the many small tables in a seating area of the cavern and granted them another dazzling smile before going into the tale.

"As you all know," he began, his voice booming against the stone. "Our conflict with the Britons nearly destroyed us. Traveling from Rome to take more land left our city vulnerable, and we lost our glorious empire. I was left on the fields of what the humans now call Scotland, bloodied from the battle as we struggled to keep our foothold. We had won that bitter conflict, but I was mortally wounded, dying slowly. Our army feared the worst; our generals began to make plans to retreat and get everyone safely home. I had no heir, and there were those in Rome waiting to take the throne from me. We thought all hope to be lost, and I nearly crossed the threshold into death."

"But then!" Severus gestured toward his mother before continuing. "My mother Julia was visited by a seer as she tended to me. I was sick with fever, and I had been bleeding for so long. I don't know how I was still living. The seer entered my tent and blessed us with so many gifts. He had sought me out since we departed for Britain, but he knew he wouldn't find us until I was nearly dead. He helped me find clarity in the haze of pain, and he told me his vision of Rome, his vision of Italy. He told me that I would be given what humans see as a curse. I would rise again, but I needed to rest and gather my strength first. He told us of the cave system that is now our secret palace, and he told me all I needed to know for building an army. Most importantly, he told me to look for your family, Sidia."

She kept her face blank, but Sidia had so many questions hammering away in her brain. A seer told him the future? Why would a seer tell him all this and guide him in such a way? Surely Severus wasn't going to claim a divine right to the seat of Rome. Why would he want to be emperor after all this time anyway? Immortality must offer more power than any mortal throne ever could. But how could she ask these questions without risking her life?

Severus stepped down from the table and focused all his attention on Sidia. She couldn't help but feel breathless in his gaze. "The seer told us your family would help me. Over the centuries, we have taken the daughters your family promised us to keep the mountainside protected and to help my hidden empire flourish. We do not force anyone to do anything, though. If they did not wish to join my coven and marry my generals and soldiers, I'd let them go with plenty of wealth to do as they please."

Let them go? Sidia thought to herself. If he let them go, then why didn't anyone ever come home? One of them must have wanted to take any of the gold Severus gave them and go back to their lives. Did every single woman set free really head off into the world? That didn't make any sense.

"I can offer you the same thing, Sidia, but I must beg of you one favor." Severus reached out for her hand again, and she didn't stop him this time. "Please stay with me for just a few weeks. Get to know me, meet the members of your family who are here, and wait to make your decision. I will not hold you against your will, but I must beg you, please. Will you grant me this favor?"

The room fell silent, all the glittering eyes focused on her. Sidia gulped before responding. "I still don't understand. How do you know I am . . . the one destined for you?" The words felt silly in her mouth. She had never been much of a romantic.

"How could I forget to mention it?" Severus chuckled. "The seer told me the Amato daughters would help me build my army, but he said only one would be fit to be my empress. He told me the one that comes to me with the fiery heart and practicality of a warrior would be the daughter for me, the one with bare feet and men's clothes. I knew the moment Marcus opened the doors and I saw you that all my waiting was over."

Sidia shook her head, trying to wrap her mind around all this information. "The world is different now. We don't have an emperor. It's 1818. How can you take over Rome? You want to declare war? This doesn't make any sense!"

Severus's smile faltered slightly, but it was barely noticeable. "You need rest and time, my dear. How about I introduce you to someone who can help you understand?" Severus turned back to the female vampires still waiting for instructions. "Helena, please step forward."

From the group, a young woman separated and approached them. She had beautiful golden eyes and the same black curls as Sidia. The shape of her nose was so similar to Sidia's father's that it felt like she was staring at Enzo himself.

"Aunt Helena?" Sidia gasped in shock.

She nodded. "Hello, my dear niece."